SAN BERNARDINO – The city has rejected a claim filed by an investigator Police Chief Keith Kilmer hired last June demanding payment he says he’s owed.

William Schneid sought the remaining $39,000 he billed the city for 261 hours he and his team spent reviewing internal probes and continuing an investigation into alleged police misconduct.

But the city disagrees Schneid is owed any more than he’s already been paid, said City Attorney James F. Penman.

“The city’s position is that Mr. Schneid was paid for all of the work he was asked to perform,” Penman said.

Schneid’s attorney, Robert A. Weinberg, said the duo hasn’t decided if they’ll seek restitution through litigation.

“We are going to proceed as appropriate after discussion with my client,” Weinberg said.

Penman says he hasn’t received any communication from Schneid or Weinberg since the claim was dismissed earlier this week and is confident the city will prevail if the matter goes to court.

“We believe we have a very strong case,” Penman said. “Our police chief has assured us that he asked Mr. Schneid to do some very specific work and the city paid Mr. Schneid for that work and nothing more is owed.”

Schneid’s been paid about $22,000 of the $60,662 he billed the city. No written contract was drawn up between Kilmer and Schneid.

His work included investigating a police sergeant who has been accused of illegally detaining suspects and stealing department funds.

Invoices Schneid provided weren’t detailed and mostly lists fees for “general investigative time.” His claim states Kilmer “indicated to the claimant that he was to take all the necessary and appropriate actions to perform his investigation into the allegations.”

Senior Assistant City Attorney Diane Catran Roth has said department heads don’t have the authority to enter into a contract for more than $25,000 without City Council approval.

She has said, “a person contracting with the city is charged with knowledge of the limitation of authority of its officers and agents.”